By political reporter Eric Tlozek, staff Thursday 30 July 2015
Photo: Mrs Bishop is considering her position in light of ongoing negative publicity about her travel spending. (AAP: Lukas Coch)
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The Federal Opposition says it will show its lack of respect for Bronwyn Bishop if she is still Speaker when Parliament resumes in less than two weeks.
Senior ministers said Mrs Bishop was considering her position in light of ongoing negative publicity about her travel spending, in particular a $5,227 taxpayer-funded helicopter flight she took from Melbourne to Geelong for a political fundraiser.
Labor has also raised questions about expenses claims Mrs Bishop made to attend the weddings of two Liberal colleagues.
Crossbench MPs Clive Palmer and Andrew Wilkie are planning to move a no-confidence motion in Mrs Bishop when Parliament resumes.
The Government can defeat that with its majority but Labor's manager of Opposition business, Tony Burke, said Mrs Bishop would face ongoing attacks from the Opposition if she did not step down.
"She has brought massive disrepute on the entire Parliament," he said.
How can the Speaker be unseated?
- Speaker ceases to hold office if they cease to be a member.
- Speaker can be removed from office by a vote of the house.
- Speaker can resign their office or seat directly to the Governor-General in writing.
He said Labor MPs would no longer respect Mrs Bishop when she tries to chair proceedings.
"There's been lots of occasions where people might think the Parliament's in chaos, but also people pull back and pull back out of respect for the office the Speaker holds," he said.
"That's over now. That's completely over.
"She might be there in a big important chair, but the sense of her as being somebody respected to do that job fairly and do that job in a way that reflects on the rest of the Parliament positively is gone, completely gone."
The Opposition has previously moved a no-confidence motion in the Speaker, arguing she was biased.
Little support for Bishop among senior members
The ABC has spoken to senior members of the Government and there is little support for her.
While one described her position as "untenable", another called her actions "unconscionable".
"Ropeable doesn't even come close," one MP said.
"This is week three and there is no sign of it ending. She has no support [in the party] because what she did was so unconscionable."
But the Leader of the House, Christopher Pyne, has called on Government colleagues to stand firm and support Mrs Bishop to remain in the Speaker's chair.
"I think Bronwyn Bishop is doing a superb job as Speaker," he said.
Timeline of Bishop's travel scandals
- 2006: Claims $600 for return flight to Albury
Mrs Bishop flies into Albury and then continues on to Wangaratta for the wedding of former Liberal frontbencher Sophie Mirabella.
Her office says the travel was within her entitlements because Mrs Bishop held a private meeting in relation to her role as chair of the family and human services committee in Albury and paid for her own transport and accommodation for the wedding.
2007: Claims $288 for travel allowance in Brisbane
On the same day, Mrs Bishop attends the wedding of Liberal colleague Teresa Gambaro.
Her office says the travel was within her entitlements because she was chair of a parliamentary committee looking into illicit drug use, and met with an academic with experience in that area the next day in Brisbane.
2014: Claims $5,227 for charter helicopter to Clifton Golf Course near Geelong
Mrs Bishop takes the 90km trip from Melbourne to the golf course for a Liberal fundraiser.
The charter claim is recorded in the entitlement log and revealed as a helicopter flight when a tweet from a volunteer at the golf course surfaces.
The Speaker holds a media conference to defend her actions.
She says the claim was within her entitlement but agrees to pay back the money with a 25 per cent penalty because of the public uproar.
July 15, 2015:
Media starts reporting on the charter helicopter flight.
July 17, 2015:
Labor refers the helicopter flight to Federal Police for further investigation. AFP responds by invoking the 1998 "Minchin Protocol" and hands the case to the Department of Finance to investigate.
July 29, 2015:
Crossbenchers Clive Palmer and Andrew Wilkie signal plans for a no-confidence motion when Parliament resumes.
July 30, 2015:
Mrs Bishop goes on Sydney radio station 2GB to say she is sorry to have "let down the Australian people" and vows to repay any taxpayer money she spent on attending weddings.
However, she says she will not resign as Speaker.From other news sites:
- The Sydney Morning Herald: Speaker Bronwyn Bishop is considering her position amid expenses scandal: Julie Bishop
- Herald Sun: Bronwyn Bishop says she has Prime Minister Tony Abbott's backing as expense scandal deepens
- Yahoo!7 News: Libs cautious over Speaker future
- News.com.au: Speaker Bronwyn Bishop charged taxpayers to attend a wedding as questions asked over Albury trip
- Australian Financial Review: Bronwyn Bishop 'considering her position'
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